Present during his two world titles in Imola and Leuven, Julian Alaphilippe will not have his partner by his side.
Arriving in Australia at the beginning of the week, the Blues turn to the big event on Sunday, with one goal in mind: to make the Marseillaise resound once again in the skies of Wollongong, as in Imola in 2020 and as in Leuven. 2021. And this time, several Blues will have their card to play like Valentin Madouas or Benoit Cosnefroy, called at the last minute.
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Despite his truncated preparation after his fall in the Vuelta and his right shoulder dislocation, Julian Alaphilippe is clearly a candidate for his own succession. Because if he’s not 100%, he’s not 100% either. ” rotten “, in his words. However, the two-time world champion will have to do without a lot of support in Australia: unlike Imola and Louvain, the former French champion will not be there.
doesn’t know the same
If, like last Sunday during the time trial, the northerner will officiate the comments together with her friends Laurent Jalabert and Alexandre Pasteur, the trio will work in the Paris studio as happened during the 2000 Tour de France, the Covid pandemic obliges.
“With Alexandre Pasteur we used to run a hotel 60km from the finish to be able to recognize the end of the stage, which is ideal for our comments, the former champion of France had repented. It will also be frustrating for the atmosphere. I love going to the finish line to do our sets and meet people. » And Julian Alaphilippe’s partner to add then: “So I’m going to do my job the same way, but it clearly doesn’t taste the same.”